Firefighting Simulator: Ignite review

Let’s face it, there’s an overabundance of janky vocational simulations out there. While some of these bug-fests might be suited for humorous streaming sessions, they’re not something that you’d probably want to squander your money on. While Weltenbauer Software’s Firefighting Simulator: Ignite isn’t free of mistakes, it’s more accessible and entertaining than many of its day-in-the-life peers.

Weltenbauer aims for a balance between realism and accessibility. Ignite makes a worthwhile effort to replicate the procedures and hazards of real firefighting. From recreating the feeling of dragging heavy hoses, ventilating rooms filled with smoke, and ensuring that rescues are a top priority, the game recreates a firefighter’s fundamental duties without getting caught up in technical minutiae.

Trial By Fire

Fortunately, Firefighting Simulator takes a measured approach to onboarding. Following a fairly comprehensive tutorial, the game’s campaign mode sends you on a succession of Major, Main, and Side missions as well as that gradually add new tasks and obstacles. But you’ll also acquire promotions and access to new equipment, providing some compensation for your efforts. Naturally, there’s a bit of overlap across the game’s collection of nearly forty missions. But there’s also just a bit of playfulness with your first call-out dealing with a retail riot caused by Black Friday shoppers.

Part of what helps Firefighting Simulator: Ignite is the game use of the Unreal Engine 5. While you’ll notice the occasional graphical oddity when you’re (optionally) driving the firetruck, there’s a surprising amount of visual polish is other areas. Flames flicker convincingly, spreading across rooms in volatile ways, while smoke lingers in the air, limiting visibility. Although Environmental destruction is limited, but there’s still a sense of realism in how fires spread and how water interacts the on-screen blazes.

Tools of the Trade

Another aspect that adds to Ignite is the game intuitive user interface. Whether you’re securing hoses to a hydrant, dousing flames, or breaking windows for ventilation, the controls are both logical and responsive. Most actions are based around quick-time events and while there’s might be some initial slipups between button taps and holds, on-screen prompts help circumvent frustration. For challenging tasks like parking the fire rig or identifying flammable objects in cluttered spaces, these indicators are a welcome feature. But if you need extra visual assistance, a trigger pull can highlight critical elements in your environment, similar to Batman: Arkham Asylum’s Detective Vision.

When the Crew Misses the Call

Unfortunately, the game’s artificial intelligence doesn’t always rise to the same standard. Your CPU-controlled fellow firefighters generally follow orders and assist with carrying equipment. But occasionally they’re more reactive than proactive, especially when it comes to tasks like extinguishing rooftop blazes from your engine’s ladder. There are moments where they’ll behave like a well-trained crew, whether it’s setting up attack hoses or saturating flames.

But other times, they’ll ignore your orders, neglect to prioritize obvious hazards, or even get stuck in a doorway. Once, I got knocked out and my mates didn’t come to my aid. These issues aren’t limited to your allies. Occasionally, fully conscious civilians will stand near open infernos. Given the complexities of missions, the level of artificial intelligence is better than most games. But moments of exasperation occur frequently enough to dampen a sense of immersion.

A Sim That Sparks Satisfaction

The inclusion of bots allows Ignite to be played by soloists, but it feels the game was designed for online, cooperative play. Coordinating with three other players turns the game into a tense test of teamwork. Here, you can call out dangers, splitting up duties, and properly prioritize human safety. When everyone is in sync, call-outs can feel like a hard-earned triumph. And while Weltenbauer should be praised for including cross-platform play, allowing PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X owners to work to join forces, I experienced a few anomalies when teaming up with my fellow Steam-mates.

Despite these faults, I enjoyed my time with Firefighting Simulator: Ignite thanks to the game’s appealing blend of authenticity and accessibility. While uneven AI and the occasional network hiccup can dilute the sense of teamwork, Ignite’s user-friendly controls, tense missions, and remarkable fire dynamics make it one of the better vocational sims out there. Weltenbauer’s latest effort proves there’s satisfaction to be found in battling digital infernos. As such, Ignite is a compelling recommendation for those who are looking for some light-sim firefighting. But it’s a better bet if you’re interested in extinguishing blazes with buddies.

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.